Contents:

Introduction Chapter 1. Attitudes Highlights Older Americans Are the Happiest Belief in Hard Work Is Strong among Younger Generations More than One-Third of Gen Xers Are Dissatisfied with Their Finances The American Standard of Living May Be Falling Two Children Are Most Popular Religious Diversity Is on the Rise Growing Tolerance of Sexual Behavior Television News Is Most Important Millennials and Gen Xers Are at Odds over Death Penalty Chapter 2. Education Highlights Generation X Is the Best Educated Most Generation Xers Have Been to College Nearly 32 Percent of Gen X Men Are College Graduates Gen X Women Are Better Educated than Gen X Men Among Gen Xers, Asian Men Have the Highest Educational Attainment Hispanic Women Are Least Likely to Be High School Graduates Some Gen Xers Are Still in School Gen Xers Account for Few College Students Many Adults Participate in Education for Job-Related Reasons Chapter 3. Health Highlights Most 35-to-44-Year-Olds Say Their Health Is Excellent or Very Good Weight Problems Are the Norm for Gen Xers Americans Report on Their Sexual Behavior Birth Rate Has Increased among Women Aged 30 or Older Most Women Are Mothers by Age 30 Generation X No Longer Dominates Births Many Generation X Mothers Are Not Married Caesarean Deliveries Are Common among Women of All Ages Twenty Percent of 35-to-44-Year-Olds Smoke Cigarettes Eighteen Percent of Generation Xers Lack Health Insurance Health Problems Are Few in the 18-to-44 Age Group Prescription Drug Use Is Increasing Adults Aged 25 to 44 Account for More than One in Five Physician Visits Many Americans Turns to Alternative Medicine Most Deaths of Younger Adults Are Preventable Chapter 4. Housing Highlights Homeownership Rate Has Declined Homeownership Rises with Age Married Couples Are Most Likely to Be Homeowners Most Black Gen Xers Are Not Yet Homeowners Most Americans Live in a Single-Family Home Table of Contents Many Generation Xers Live in New Homes Housing Costs Are Highest for Couples Aged 35 to 44 Married Couples Aged 35 to 44 Own the Most Expensive Homes Mobility Rate Falls Steeply in the 30-to-44 Age Group Chapter 5. Income Highlights Household Incomes of Gen Xers Have Declined Household Income Rises with Age Incomes Are Highest for Asian Households Couples Have the Highest Incomes Median Income of Men Aged 35 to 44 Is below the 1990 Level Men’s Income Rises above Average in the 30-to-34 Age Group Among Gen X Women, Asians Have the Highest Incomes Earnings Rise with Education Poverty Rate Is below Average for Gen Xers Chapter 6. Labor Force Highlights Fewer Gen Xers Are Working More than 80 Percent of Generation Xers Are in the Labor Force Asians Are Least Likely to Be Unemployed Labor Force Participation of Gen X Women Varies by Race and Ethnicity Most Generation X Couples Are Dual Earners Generation Xers Are Overrepresented in Some Jobs Few Gen Xers Work Part-Time Self-Employment Is Uncommon among Gen Xers Job Tenure Has Decreased Slightly for Men Aged 35 to 44 More than One in 10 Generation Xers Have Alternative Work Arrangements Few Gen Xers Work for Minimum Wage Few 35-to-44-Year-Olds Are Represented by Unions Number of Workers Aged 35 to 54 Will Decline Chapter 7. Living Arrangements Highlights Married Couples Become the Norm among 30-to-34-Year-Olds Hispanics and Blacks Head Many Gen X Households Gen X Households Are Crowded The Majority of Gen Xers Have Children at Home Hispanic Gen X Households Are Most Likely to include Children Many Households Headed by Gen Xers include Preschoolers Two-Child Families Are Most Common Gen Xers Account for Few People Who Live Alone Most Gen Xers Are Married Black Gen Xers Are Least Likely to Be Married Divorce Is Highest among Men and Women in Their Fifties Chapter 8. Population Highlights Generation X Is Sandwiched between Larger Generations Generation X Is More Diverse than Average Many Gen Xers Live in Their State of Birth Many Immigrants Are Generation Xers Many Working-Age Adults Do Not Speak English at Home The Largest Share of Generation Xers Live in the South Chapter 9. Spending Highlights Spending of Householders Aged 25 to 34 Is Flat Householders Aged 25 to 34 Are Average Spenders Householders Aged 35 to 44 Spend More than Average Chapter 10. Time Use Highlights Generation X Spends More Time at Work than at Play Chapter 11. Wealth Highlights During the Housing Bubble, Gen Xers Saw Their Net Worth Increase Gen Xers Were Doing Well in the Stock Market Nonfinancial Assets of Gen Xers Grew between 2004 and 2007 Debt Increased for Gen Xers Fewer than Half of Gen Xers Have a Retirement Plan Glossary Bibliography Index Tables Chapter 1. Attitudes 1.1 General Happiness, 2008 1.2 Happiness of Marriage, 2008 1.3 Is Life Exciting, Routine, or Dull, 2008 1.4 Trust in Others, 2008 1.5 How People Get Ahead, 2008 1.6 Geographic Mobility Since Age 16, 2008 1.7 Business Ownership, 2008 1.8 Social Class Membership, 2008 1.9 Family Income Relative to Others, 2008 1.10 Satisfaction with Financial Situation, 2008 1.11 How Has Pay Changed, 2008 1.12 Parents’ Standard of Living, 2008 1.13 Standard of Living Will Improve, 2008 1.14 Children’s Standard of Living, 2008 1.15 Ideal Number of Children, 2008 1.16 Spanking Children, 2008 1.17 Better for Man to Work, Woman to Tend Home, 2008 1.18 Working Mother’s Relationship with Children, 2008 1.19 Should Government Help the Sick, 2008 1.20 Attitude toward Science, 2008 1.21 Attitude toward Evolution, 2008 1.22 Religious Preference, 2008 1.23 Degree of Religiosity, 2008 1.24 Belief in the Bible, 2008 1.25 Bible in the Public Schools, 2008 1.26 Premarital Sex, 2008 1.27 Homosexual Relations, 2008 1.28 Main Source of Information about Events in the News, 2008 1.29 Political Leanings, 2008 1.30 Favor or Oppose Death Penalty for Murder, 2008 1.31 Favor or Oppose Gun Permits, 2008 1.32 Support for Legal Abortion by Reason, 2008 1.33 Doctor-Assisted Suicide, 2008 Chapter 2. Education 2.1 Educational Attainment by Generation, 2008 2.2 Educational Attainment of Generation Xers, 2008 2.3 Educational Attainment of Generation X Men, 2008 2.4 Educational Attainment of Generation X Women, 2008 2.5 Educational Attainment of Generation X Men by Race and Hispanic Origin, 2008 2.6 Educational Attainment of Generation X Women by Race and Hispanic Origin, 2008 2.7 School Enrollment by Sex and Age, 2007 2.8 College Students by Age and Enrollment Level, 2007 2.9 Participation in Adult Education by Age, 2005 Chapter 3. Health 3.1 Health Status by Age, 2008 3.2 Average Measured Weight by Age and Sex, 2003–06 3.3 Weight Status by Sex and Age, 2003–06 3.4 Leisure-Time Physical Activity Level by Sex and Age, 2006 3.5 Lifetime Sexual Activity of 15-to-44-Year-Olds by Sex, 2002 3.6 Past Year Sexual Activity of 15-to-44-Year-Olds by Sex, 2002 3.7 Sexual Orientation of 18-to-44-Year-Olds, 2002 3.8 Lifetime Same-Sex Sexual Activity of 15-to-44-Year-Olds, 2002 3.9 Birth Rate by Age, 1990 to 2006 3.10 Number of Children Born to Women Aged 15 to 44, 2006 3.11 Women Giving Birth in the Past Year, 2006 3.12 Births by Age, Race, and Hispanic Origin, 2007 3.13 Births by Age of Mother and Birth Order, 2007 3.14 Births to Unmarried Women by Age, 2007 3.15 Births by Age and Method of Delivery, 2006 3.16 Cigarette Smoking Status by Age, 2008 3.17 Alcohol Use by Age, 2008 3.18 Illicit Drug Use by People Aged 12 or Older, 2007 3.19 Marijuana Use by People Aged 12 or Older, 2007 3.20 Health Insurance Coverage by Age, 2007 3.21 Private Health Insurance Coverage by Age, 2007 3.22 Government Health Insurance Coverage by Age, 2007 3.23 People Aged 18 to 44 by Health Insurance Coverage Status and Reason for No Coverage, 2007 3.24 Spending on Health Care by Age, 2006 3.25 Number of Adults with Health Conditions by Age, 2007 3.26 Distribution of Health Conditions among Adults by Age, 2007 3.27 Percent of Adults with Health Conditions by Age, 2007 3.28 Hypertension by Sex and Age, 1988–94 and 2003–06 3.29 High Cholesterol by Sex and Age, 1988–94 and 2003–06 3.30 Cumulative Number of AIDS Cases by Sex and Age, through 2006 3.31 Prescription Drug Use by Sex and Age, 1988–94 and 2001–04 3.32 Spending on Prescription Medications by Age, 2006 3.33 Physician Office Visits by Sex and Age, 2006 3.34 Hospital Outpatient Department Visits by Age and Reason, 2006 3.35 Emergency Department Visits by Age and Urgency of Problem, 2006 3.36 Rating of Health Care Received from Doctor’s Office or Clinic, 2006 3.37 Adults Who Use Complementary and Alternative Medicine by Age, 2007 3.38 Leading Causes of Death for People Aged 25 to 34, 2006 3.39 Leading Causes of Death for People Aged 35 to 44, 2006 3.40 Life Expectancy by Age and Sex, 2006 Chapter 4. Housing 4.1 Homeownership by Age of Householder, 2000 to 2008 4.2 Owners and Renters by Age of Householder, 2008 4.3 Homeownership Rate by Age of Householder and Type of Household, 2008 4.4 Black and Hispanic Homeownership Rate by Age, 2007 4.5 Number of Units in Structure by Age of Householder, 2007 4.6 Owners and Renters of New Homes by Age of Householder, 2007 4.7 Median Monthly Housing Costs by Household Type and Age of Householder, 2007 4.8 Value of Owner-Occupied Homes by Type of Household and Age of Householder, 2007 4.9 Geographical Mobility by Age and type of Move, 2007–08 4.10 Reason for Moving among People Aged 30 to 44, 2007–08 Chapter 5. Income 5.1 Median Income of Households Headed by People Aged 35 to 44, 1990 to 2007 5.2 Income of Households Headed by People Aged 30 to 44, 2007: Total Households 5.3 Income of Households Headed by People Aged 30 to 44, 2007: Asian Households 5.4 Income of Households Headed by People Aged 30 to 44, 2007: Black Households 5.5 Income of Households Headed by People Aged 30 to 44, 2007: Hispanic Households 5.6 Income of Households Headed by People Aged 30 to 44, 2007: Non-Hispanic White Households 5.7. Income of Households by Household Type, 2007: Aged 30 to 44 5.8 Income of Households by Household Type, 2007: Aged 30 to 34 5.9 Income of Households by Household Type, 2007: Aged 35 to 39 5.10 Income of Households by Household Type, 2007: Aged 40 to 44 5.11 Median Income of Men Aged 35 to 44, 1990 to 2007 5.12 Median Income of Women Aged 35 to 44, 1990 to 2007 5.13 Income of Men Aged 30 to 44, 2007: Total Men 5.14 Income of Men Aged 30 to 44, 2007: Asian Men 5.15 Income of Men Aged 30 to 44, 2007: Black Men 5.16 Income of Men Aged 30 to 44, 2007: Hispanic Men 5.17 Income of Men Aged 30 to 44, 2007: Non-Hispanic White Men 5.18 Income of Women Aged 30 to 44, 2007: Total Women 5.19 Income of Women Aged 30 to 44, 2007: Asian Women 5.20 Income of Women Aged 30 to 44, 2007: Black Women 5.21 Income of Women Aged 30 to 44, 2007: Hispanic Women 5.22 Income of Women Aged 30 to 44, 2007: Non-Hispanic White Women 5.23 Earnings of Men by Education, 2007: Aged 35 to 44 5.24 Earnings of Women by Education, 2007: Aged 35 to 44 5.25 People below Poverty Level by Age, Race, and Hispanic Origin, 2007 Chapter 6. Labor Force 6.1 Labor Force Participation Rate by Sex and Age, 2000 and 2008 6.2 Employment Status by Sex and Age, 2008 6.3 Employment Status of Men by Race, Hispanic Origin, and Age, 2008 6.4 Employment Status of Women by Race, Hispanic Origin, and Age, 2008 6.5 Labor Force Status of Married-Couple Family Groups by Age, 2008 6.6 Occupations of Workers Aged 35 to 44, 2008 6.7 Distribution of Workers Aged 35 to 44 by Detailed Occupation, 2008 6.8 Full- and Part-Time Workers by Age and Sex, 2008 6.9 Part-Time Workers by Sex, Age, and Reason, 2008 6.10 Self-Employed Workers by Sex and Age, 2008 6.11 Job Tenure by Sex and Age, 2000 and 2008 6.12 Long-Term Employment by Sex and Age, 2000 and 2008 6.13 Alternative Work Arrangements by Age, 2005 6.14 Workers Earning Minimum Wage by Age, 2008 6.15 Union Representation by Sex and Age, 2008 6.16 Projections of the Labor Force by Sex and Age, 2006 and 2016 Chapter 7. Living Arrangements 7.1 Households Headed by People Aged 30 to 44 by Household Type 2008: Total Households 7.2 Households Headed by People Aged 30 to 44 by Household Type, Race, and Hispanic Origin, 2008 7.3 Households Headed by People Aged 30 to 44 by Household Type, 2008: Asian Households 7.4 Households Headed by People Aged 30 to 44 by Household Type, 2008: Black Households 7.5 Households Headed by People Aged 30 to 44 by Household Type, 2008: Hispanic Households 7.6 Households Headed by People Aged 30 to 44 by Household Type, 2008: Non-Hispanic White Households 7.7 Average Size of Household by Age of Householder, 2008 7.8. Households by Type, Age of Householder, and Presence of Children, 2008: Total Households 7.9. Households by Type, Age of Householder, and Presence of Children, 2008: Asian Households 7.10. Households by Type, Age of Householder, and Presence of Children, 2008: Black Households 7.11. Households by Type, Age of Householder, and Presence of Children, 2008: Hispanic Households 7.12. Households by Type, Age of Householder, and Presence of Children, 2008: Non-Hispanic Households 7.13 Households by Presence and Age of Children and Age of Householder, 2008 7.14 Married Couples with Children by Number of Children and Age of Householder, 2008 7.15 Female-Headed Families with Children by Number of Children and Age of Householder, 2008 7.16 Male-Headed Families with Children by Number of Children and Age of Householder, 2008 7.17 People Who Live Alone by Age, 2008 7.18 Marital Status by Sex and Age, 2008: Total People 7.19 Marital Status by Sex and Age, 2008: Asians 7.20 Marital Status by Sex and Age, 2008: Blacks 7.21 Marital Status by Sex and Age, 2008: Hispanics 7.22 Marital Status by Sex and Age, 2008: Non-Hispanic Whites 7.23 Marital History of Men by Age, 2004 7.24 Marital History of Women by Age, 2004 Chapter 8. Population 8.1 Population by Age and Generation, 2008 8.2 Population by Age and Sex, 2008 8.3 Population by Age, 2000 and 2008 8.4 Population by Age, 2008 to 2025 8.5 Population by Generation, 2008 to 2025 8.6 Population by Age, Race, and Hispanic Origin, 2008 8.7 Population by Generation, Race, and Hispanic Origin, 2008 8.8 Population by Age and Place of Birth, 2007 8.9 Foreign-Born Population by Age and World Region of Birth, 2007 8.10 Newly Arrived Immigrants by Age, 2008 8.11 Language Spoken at Home by People Aged 18 to 64, 2007 8.12 Population by Age and Region, 2008 8.13 Population by Generation and Region, 2008 8.14 Generation X by Region, Race, and Hispanic Origin, 2007 8.15 State Populations by Age, 2008 8.16 Distribution of State Populations by Age, 2008 8.17 State Populations by Generation, 2008 8.18 Distribution of State Populations by Generation, 2008 Chapter 9. Spending 9.1 Average Spending of Total Households, 2000 and 2007 9.2 Average Spending of Householders Aged 25 to 34, 2000 and 2007 9.3 Average Spending of Householders Aged 35 to 44, 2000 and 2007 9.4 Average, Indexed, and Market Share of Spending by Householders Aged 25 to 34, 2007 9.5 Average, Indexed, and Market Share of Spending by Householders Aged 35 to 44, 2007 Chapter 10. Time Use 10.1 Detailed Time Use of People Aged 35 to 44, 2007 10.2 Detailed Time Use of Men Aged 35 to 44, 2007 10.3 Detailed Time Use of Women Aged 35 to 44, 2007 Chapter 11. Wealth 11.1 Net Worth of Households by Age of Householder, 2004 to 2007 11.2 Financial Assets of Households by Age of Householder, 2004 and 2007 11.3 Financial Assets of Households by Type of Asset and Age of Householder, 2007 11.4 Stock Ownership of Households by Age of Householder, 2004 and 2007 11.5 Nonfinancial Assets of Households by Age of Householder, 2004 and 2007 11.6 Nonfinancial Assets of Households by Type of Asset and Age of Householder, 2007 11.7 Household Ownership of Primary Residence by Age of Householder, 2004 and 2007 11.8 Debt of Households by Age of Householder, 2004 and 2007 11.9 Debt of Households by Type of Debt and Age of Householder, 2007 11.10 Retirement Plan Coverage by Age, 2007 11.11 Ownership of IRAs and 401(k)s by Age, 2005 11.12 Participation in IRAs and 401(k)s by Age, 2005 11.13 Retirement Planning by Age, 2009 11.14 Changes in Retirement Confidence by Age, 1999 and 2009 Illustrations Chapter 1. Attitudes Few Millennials trust others Business ownership peaks in middle age Many Boomers and younger adults are dissatisfied with their financial situation Most still believe children will be better off Few among the younger generations think traditional sex roles are best Younger generations are less Protestant Most Millennials see nothing wrong with gays and lesbians News sources differ dramatically by generation Most do not favor allowing abortions for any reason Chapter 2. Education Generation X is better educated than Boomers Among Generation Xers, one in nine has a graduate degree Most men aged 35 to 44 have at least some college experience Most women aged 35 to 44 have at least some college experience Education gaps point to continued socioeconomic differences Among Gen X women, Asians have the highest educational attainment Among 35-to-44-year-olds, women outnumber men in school More than half a million graduate students are aged 35 to 44 Work-related training peaks in the 45-to-54 age group Chapter 3. Health More than 60 percent of 35-to-44-year-olds say their health is excellent or very good Most Gen Xers weigh more than they should Most Americans aged 18 or older are sexually active Birth rate peaks in the 25-to-29 age group Most women aged 25 or older have had at least one child The women of Generation X account for just over one-third of births About one in five babies born to women aged 30 or older is out of wedlock Younger mothers are least likely to require a Caesarean delivery Many Gen Xers never smoked Many Americans do not have health insurance coverage The percentage of people with arthritis rises with age Most have prescription drug expenses People aged 25 to 44 see a doctor between two and three times a year The use of alternative medicine peaks in middle age Cancer and heart disease are important causes of death among 35-to-44-year-olds Chapter 4. Housing After peaking in 2004, homeownership rate among 30-to-44-year-olds has fallen Homeownership becomes the norm in the 30-to-34 age group More than 70 percent of couples aged 30 to 44 own their home Forty-five percent of black householders aged 35 to 44 own their home Generation Xers are likely to live in a detached, single-family home Generation Xers account for a large share of the owners of new homes Housing costs fall after age 45 Home values were close to their peak in 2007 Seventeen percent of 30-to-34-year-olds moved between 2007 and 2008 Chapter 5. Income Household incomes have fallen since 2000 Householders aged 30 to 44 have above-average incomes The incomes of middle-aged householders vary by race and Hispanic origin The incomes of Gen X couples are above average Women have enjoyed big gains in income Among men aged 30 to 44, Hispanics have the lowest incomes Among women aged 30 to 44 who work full-time, Hispanics have the lowest incomes College bonus is still big The young are most likely to be poor Chapter 6. Labor Force The labor force participation rate of men aged 30 to 44 has fallen Most men and women of Generation X are in the labor force Unemployment rate differs by race and Hispanic origin Labor force participation rate is highest among black women Few Generation X couples are supported solely by the husband People aged 35 to 44 account for more than one-third of some occupations Some part-time workers want full-time jobs Few Generation Xers are self-employed Fewer men aged 35 to 44 have long-term jobs The percentage of workers who are independent contractors rises with age Half of minimum wage workers are under age 25 Few workers are represented by a union The number of workers aged 35 to 54 will decline Chapter 7. Living Arrangements Married couples dominate Gen X households Seventeen percent of Gen X couples are Hispanic The nest is crowded for householders in their thirties Male-headed families are least likely to include children, but most do Most Gen X households include children Children are the norm for householders aged 30 to 44 Most Gen X couples have one or two children at home Gen X men are more likely than Gen X women to live alone Divorce climbs in the Gen X age group Among 30-to-44-year-olds, Asian women are most likely to be married More than one in five adults have experienced divorce Chapter 8. Population The middle-aged population will shrink during the next decade Fewer than two-thirds of Generation Xers are non-Hispanic white Sixty percent of the foreign-born in the 25-to-44 age group are from Latin America Immigrants aged 30 to 44 account for 32 percent of the total Most adults who speak Spanish at home cannot speak English very well In the West, minorities account for nearly half of Gen Xers Chapter 9. Spending Generation Xers have cut back on many, but not all, discretionary items Young adults spent 12 percent more than average on alcoholic beverages Householders aged 35 to 44 spend 24 percent more than the average household on cereal Chapter 10. Time Use Time at work peaks in middle age Chapter 11. Wealth Net worth of householders aged 35 to 44 grew between 2004 and 2007 Value of financial assets owned by Generation Xers was modest in 2007 A nostalgic look at median housing values in 2007 Debt declines with age Fewer than half of workers aged 35 to 44 participate in an employer-sponsored retirement plan

Reviews

"Although Generation X has received less publicity than its predecessor, the Baby Boom generation, it may well hold more critical insight into the future direction of the U.S. population. This work is a convenient, user-friendly, and authoritative location for information on Generation X." - American Reference Books Annual